Ski Touring Weekend Introduction

Chamonix ski touring, discover the best on a weekend ski trip

Chamonix is one of the best places in the world for ski touring; beautiful backcountry trails, majestic peaks, legendary ski touring routes, incredible off-piste descents. Discover it all with your Chamex mountain guide.

This weekend ski touring course will teach you the basic essential skills that will allow you to get out there and explore the mountains, away from ski lifts and busy pistes.

We'll teach you how to use equipment such as skins ands couteaux, and how to master techniques such as the kick turn. You'll then have the opportunity to try out your newly acquired skills on a full-day ski tour into the Chamonix mountains.

Ski touring routes in Chamonix are plentiful and it doesn't take long to get off the beaten track from the ski areas of Flegere and Le Tour, into a backcountry paradise of untouched snow and breathtaking scenery.

The Aiguilles Rouges is world-famous for its beautiful ski touring terrain and, of course, there are endless options from the mythical Vallée Blanche.

Your mountain guide will plan the weekend according to the weather and snow conditions, so that you can enjoy the very best experience of ski touring in Chamonix.

This weekend ski touring course will leave you with the feeling that you had a great time skiing, met new friends and learned something new.

Description

The course takes place over two days; during which you will be lead by a UIAGM qualified Chamex mountain guide. Over the two days you will learn basic ski touring techniques, you will become familiar with using ski touring equipment, and you will be taught essential avalanche safety skills.

All of this will be taught in the mountains, on different ski tours in Chamonix and the surrounding area. As well as learning new skills, you will have a fantastic experience with like-minded people!

Level Requirements

You do not need any previous ski touring experience to join this programme but you should be a competent off-piste skier. You should also have a good level of fitness and be prepared to undertake climbs of 2-4 hours on skis.

Ski Touring Course Dates

The introductory ski touring course is run every second weekend from December until end of April, weather permitting.

If you prefer a different date or do not wish to join a group, you can book this course with a private mountain guide.

Equipement collectif

Safety Equipment

We can provide the essential safety equipment of harness, avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel if you do not have your own. We can also lend you a backpack with straps for carrying your skis/snowboard on request.

Food & Drink

The price does not include lunch or snacks. You can bring your own food and we can stop for a picnic, or there may be the option to buy lunch at a mountain hut. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be in the mountains for a number of hours.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.

Se rendre à Chamonix

Day 1 - Chamonix Ski Touring Weekend

We meet nice and early at the Chamonix Experience office, just a few steps from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, for a coffee and to meet your Chamex mountain guide and fellow ski tourers. The mountain guide will check your ski touring equipment and help you organize your gear before we head off into the Chamonix mountains. The day starts with a quick assessment of your ski level, a brief run through of basic avalanche awaress and an introduction to ski touring techniques. You will be taught how to put the skins ON and OFF, how to complete your first kick turn, how to strap your skis onto your backpack and how to climb a small couloir. Your mountain guide will also teach you how to use the avalanche safety equipment.

Day 2 - Chamonix Ski Touring Weekend

Today is a full day ski touring in Chamonix. Your mountain guide will choose the best route for that day, according to weather and snow conditions.

The hike up will be about 600 vertical meters, where you will get to put into practice all the skills that you learned the day before: handling the skins, kick turns and hiking up with your skis on your rucksack.

You'll then get to ski back down a beautiful off-piste descent before heading off to celebrate in Chamonix!

Col du Passon

The Col du Passon ski tour route starts from the top of the Les Grands Montets cable car in Argentiere (3283m). We start by skiing down the spectacular Rognon glacier, keeping to the right of the rock and onto the heavily crevassed Argentiere glacier. This descent can be an amazing ride when the snow is fresh but very challenging when the snow is wind and sun affected.

After crossing the Argentiere glacier we put on our skins and start climbing up a short section over a steep moraine and continue over open slopes towards the Aiguille du Passon, then turn right towards the Col du Passon. The final part of the ascent is a short, steep couloir (45°).

Once we've reached the col we can take a quick break and admire the spectacular view before skiing all the way back down towards the pretty village of Le Tour. The descent is truly rewarding. There are many options in terms of which way to descent as the terrain is pretty wide and open.

Crochues-Berard Traverse

One of Chamonix's classic ski tours, starting from La Flegere and passing through the beautiful Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve. We start with a nice traverse from the top of the Floria draglift, towards the Aiguilles Crochues bowl. After a short steep climb to the Col de Crochues, we ski down through the bowl, keeping high so that we can descend from the Col du Berard into the next valley.

At the bottom of the valley there is a flat section where ski tour through alpine forest, alongside a crystal clear stream to the charming old village of Le Buet with its old stone chalets and wooden barns. From here we can pick up the bus or the train back to Chamonix.